Super Bowl XXXVIII
Last Week: 2-0 (1-1 o/u)
Season: 139-115-10 (144-119-3)
Carolina at New England (-7/37.5)
After a season where I was able to rack up a win/loss record that stands 24 games over .500, what better time than the biggest game of the year to fall flat on my face?
A rational sportswriter tells you this will be a defensive battle, which should force you to take the under. That same rational man or woman is preaching to you about the Pats winning streak and prior Super Bowl experience. "Let the Panthers have the points!" they say, because New England is the clear cut winner in this fight. How first year starting quarterback Jake Delhomme will be eaten alive by the genius that is Bill Belichick's defense.
All I can think about is how everyone was singing the same song about the Rams two years ago when they were the fastest show on turf. How the Pats were a good story, but would be overmatched by St. Louis' experience and confidence. How the Pats unknown quarterback couldn't handle the pressure of the biggest game in the world the way MVP Kurt Warner could.
The similarities here are mind boggling. And for those reasons I am all about being irrational.
Panthers and the over
:: Ryan 7:56 PM
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NFL Conference Championship Playoffs
Last Week: 2-2 (3-1 o/u)
Season: 137-115-10 (143-118-3)
Indianapolis at New England (-3/42.5) - Pats and the under
Carolina at Philadelphia (-4/36.5) - Panthers and the over
:: Ryan 11:30 PM
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Get In or Stay Out
I sit here as a life long fan of the New York Metropolitans and along with the rest of the world I've seen another great baseball player spurn the Mets. Finally, as the news came down that Vladimir Guerrero has decided to accept a deal from the Anaheim Angels, I realized that this is how it will always be on
this side of the city. Say what you will about Steinbrenner and the Yankees, but they always get their man. When push comes to shove, the serious owners are -- to steal from Jim Fassel -- willing to push their chips to the middle of the table to get the job done. As long as the Wilpon's are in charge of the New York Mets, this team will not win a World Championship. It's as simple as that.
It happened with Ichiro, Alex Rodriguez and now with Vladimir Guerrero. And those are just the 'superstars' they wouldn't close the deal on, forget about the next level of stars they've constantly been unwilling to make a move for.
Unlike most people, I realized the Mets were going to be unwilling to spend a lot of money this winter so I held no crazy thoughts about Vlad roaming right field in Flushing next season. If you're rebuilding, then rebuild. But don't come in at the last minute and make some half ass offer just so the General Manager can spout the company line about making a "serious" offer.
Or specifically:
"Our feeling was we had a chance, we had a legitimate chance to sign the guy," Mets GM Jim Duquette said. "It's obvious the type of player he is. It was a serious offer."
You've got one thing right Jim, it's obvious the type of player Vladimir Guerrero is. However, your owner didn't allow you to enter the ballpark of a 'serious offer'. Three years of guaranteed money is a joke to one of the best five players in the sport. Especially if those three years aren't several million more than the first three years of every other deal he has on the table.
Ownership can talk all they want about incentives and payroll limitations and their alleged 'plan' and financial responsibility, but in the end all it comes down to is they never intended on trying to bring Vladimir Guerrero to Shea. Worried about his back trouble? Well that really scared off the Orioles and their owner Peter Angelos, huh? The same Peter Angelos who has certainly been bitten by the injury bug before (have we already forgotten about Albert Belle?). Yet there were the O's, putting $70 million on the table for the taking. Now that Vlad has turned down the Orioles deal at least Angelos can go back to his fans and say "We tried our best, but he decided to play elsewhere." Don't look now kids, but the Baltimore Orioles -- like most of the majors -- have put together a better ballclub than the New York Mets.
The Angels weren't in this game from the beginning. They came in late, just like the Mets. Unlike the Mets, however, new owner Arturo Mereno knows you have to spend money to get what you want. The Angels brought in two (2) front line starters in Bartolo Colon and Kelvim Escobar (combined for nearly $60 million) and have now laid out more than $70 million guaranteed dollars to the best right fielder in the game.
If Fred Wilpon thought he lost money last season, wait until his team's attendance goes from the middle of the pack to the back. Last season's attendance was down nearly 19%* from 2002. Look for a similar drop this season after another winter where the team counters good moves (Kaz Matsui, Mike Cameron) with one horrible one that will hang over the franchise all year long. Hiring all the special assistants in the world can't fix this one.
Met fans harbor no negative feelings about Fred Wilpon the
person. Mr. Wilpon does many great things with his money and he should be commended for those things. The majority of Met fans have a huge problem with Fred Wilpon the
owner.
It's time for Fred to start playing his hands or get the hell up from the table.
*Ballpark stats taken from Ballpark Watch
:: Ryan 1:36 AM
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NFL Divisional Playoffs
Last Week: 1-3 (3-1 o/u)
Season: 135-115-10 (140-117-3)
Carolina at St. Louis (-7/45) - Rams and the over
Tennessee at New England (-6/35) - Titans and the over
Indianapolis at Kansas City (-3/51) - Chiefs and the over
Green Bay at Philadelphia (-5.5/42) - Packers and the under
:: Ryan 8:43 PM
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NFL Wildcard Weekend
Last Week: 10-6 (8-8 o/u)
Season: 134-112-10 (137-116-3)
Tennessee at Baltimore (PK/39.5) - Titans and the under
Dallas at Carolina (-3/34) - Cowboys and the under
Seattle at Green Bay (-7/44) - Packers and the over
Denver at Indianapolis (-3/49) - Broncos and the over
:: Ryan 9:23 AM
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